A geisha catfight is brewing in Japan. The country’s first official foreign geisha has been booted out of her district.

Fiona Graham, more commonly known as Sayuki, is no longer affiliated with the Asakusa Geisha Association, according to reports, noting that Ms. Graham has been asked to leave because her actions disgrace the reputation of the association. The Asakusa Geisha Association informed local reporters that being a Japanese national is indeed one stipulation to obtain tenure and become an independent geisha.

The brouhaha underlines the tension that emerges when trying to adapt an ancient Japanese cultural art to modern times Read More »

About Japan Real Time

Japan Real Time is a newsy, concise guide to what works, what doesn’t and why in the one-time poster child for Asian development, as it struggles to keep pace with faster-growing neighbors while competing with Europe for Michelin-rated restaurants. Drawing on the expertise of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, the site provides an inside track on business, politics and lifestyle in Japan as it comes to terms with being overtaken by China as the world’s second-biggest economy. You can contact the editors at japanrealtime@wsj.com